Pea Crab

Pinnotheres cardii

This very unusual small globular-shaped crab actually lives inside the Razor Clam. Although the female Pea Crab is small, not much more than about 10 mm long, it is nevertheless much larger than the male which is only several millimetres long. The female spends almost her entire life inside the clam whereas the dwarf male roams the seas alone until he finds a mate living inside other Razor Clams. This journey is one of epic proportions, and not fully known how the tiny male tracks down the female over the huge sea floor.

Commonly found from northern Australia to the Philippines.

Pea Crab (Pinnotheres cardii), Wild Guide to Moreton Bay

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